"...Excellent Field Trip..." Post 10

Avventure in Cinque Terre

The Train Parent had the day trip for Jeanie, Bill, TD, himself and me to Cinque Terre organized so that we would spend the least amount of time on 3 trains, giving us more time in Cinque Terre.

He suggested we start in Riomaggiore and work our way up the coast.  We recalled hiking between Riomaggiore and Manarola, a relatively flat trail that we thought everyone could enjoy.  TD and I had plans for adding a couple more hikes between cities.  Naturally a leisurely lunch in one of the seaside towns would be included.

We arrived at our local train station just moments before the train arrived and were unable to buy tickets, so figuring that it appears the Italian railway only sporadically checks for tickets, we decided to hop on for the first stop, Pisa, where we would change trains for La Spezia.  If asked for a ticket, we'd buy one.  We weren't asked.  The Train Parent felt quite crafty that we were saving some money on transportation.

The schedule had us pressed for time in Pisa, so we quickly bought tickets, checked the board to see what track the train was on, bolted (as best we bolt) through the underground passage to the correct platform, hopped on the train, whereupon the Train Parent said, "I think we're on the wrong train."  And he was correct.  So we missed the intended train and while researching why that happened, discovered we had been looking at the board for arrivals rather than departures.  This is not the first time our little band of travelers has made this error.  Oh, ha ha, silly Americans so unaccustomed to train travel!  

We hung around the Pisa train station until time to board the next train to La Spezia.  It was while on the platform, very shortly before boarding, that one of our party checked the ticket and said, "Look, assigned seats!"  This was new to us and we marveled over this, also wondered why this particular train had assigned seats while every other train every one had taken had not.  Oh, well, we silly Americans thought.  Just part of the Avventure del Viaggio in Treno Italiano (adventures of Italian train travel).

Imagine our surprise to see people sitting in our assigned seats!  Imagine their surprise to hear the silly Americans try to get them out of their assigned seats!  We plopped down into nearby empty seats and figured that would be the end of it.  At the next station, however, people boarded who now had the seats we were occupying as their assigned seats.

And here comes the Conductor.

Turns out we had purchased assigned seats on the train we missed, consequently we did not have assigned seats on this train we were now on.  For an additional 50 euros, we were welcome to remain on the train but would need to sit in the snack bar car.

So we took the Walk of Shame through the coach, found our way to the snack bar car, and a couple people had cappuccinos on the way to La Spezia.

The transfer from La Spezia to Riomaggiore went without incident.  Train Parent rocks!

 

Here we are at Riomaggiore.  Don't we look happy?  We then turned to take the aforementioned Via Dell'Amore trail, only to find that it was closed.  The Train Parent then suggested we hop back on the Cinque Terre train and go up to Vernazza, where we should have a option of two trails.  Agreed!  Back to the train station where we were packed like sardines into the coach. 

 Here is our next stop.

Before you're allowed to purchase a train ticket at the automated machine, you must listen to a woman tell you to beware of pickpockets.  On the train from Riomaggiore to Vernazza, Jeanie's passport from stolen from her crossbody purse which was clutched close to her.

From making the police report, we repaired to a nice restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean where we drank wine and ate lunch.  Bill and Jeanie decided to forgo the hike from Vernazza to Corniglia, returning instead to La Spezia where they could file a formal police report.  Dan, TD and I headed up over 100 steps to where the trail that went uphill for 208 metres before ending in 200 steps down to the train station where we met up with Jeanie and Bill a few hours later.  I only have a few photos because my phone died, but the views are even more spectacular than they look in the pictures.

You are not, however, allowed to wear Flip Flops.  Understandable.

The Train Parent then suggested we take the train up to Monterossa del Mare.  Even after 6 pm there were plenty of people still enjoying the beach.  We finished the day with a gelato, then headed home--without incident, I might add. 

This is the view from Monterosso del Mare up the coast of the 4 other cities.

For me, the big excitement on the train ride home was passing through Carrara, home of Italian Carrara marble.  Fortunately the train paused long enough in the station for me to get a couple photos of the quarries in the mountains.

This morning, Jeanie, McB and I took the train into Florence, where the American consulate is located.  Jeanie was able to get her passport replaced in about 4 hours--our tax payer dollars at work!  B and I were not allowed in the consulate.  When I tried to take a photo of it (and I know there are those of you out there saying, "Don't you know better?"  Obviously I didn't), one of the Italian security guards immediately barked at me that I couldn't take a photo.  He must have simultaneously secretly notified another, larger, even more gruff security guard who came rushing over from where cars are checked before they enter the 'compound.'  He made me show him that I indeed had not taken a photo.  I was worried he was going to grab my phone and throw it over his shoulder into the nearby Arno River.  I just hope I don't get stopped as a security risk when I try to go through customs on the way home.

Tomorrow our Avventure di Italia come to an end.  It all went way too quickly, as good times do. We're fortunate we extend our stay by visiting our Moldovan exchange daughter who now lives with her family outside Brussels.

More to come...